Italian Dining Furniture: 8 Tips For Choosing

Many of us associate Italy with excellent cuisine, a warm climate, seascapes and fashionable clothes. However, this is not all that the country on the Apennine Peninsula can be proud of. In Italy, a huge number of furniture factories are concentrated, and some of them have existed for hundreds of years. Great experience, centuries-old traditions, high-quality materials, unique design - all this made Italian furniture the dream of millions. It’s still not worth taking the first furniture that is marked “made in Italy” for the dining room - for starters, it does not hinder to decide what you really need and to understand if there is a fake in front of you. We figure out how to choose Italian dining furniture, and what is important to pay attention to when buying.

No. 1. Benefits of Italian Dining Furniture

Surely, everyone wonders why Italian furniture is so remarkable that it is so adored throughout the world. The whole thing, probably, is that this is not just furniture - it is a kind of art, in which many years of tradition, family secrets and original design are embodied.

The benefits of Italian dining furniture can include:

• high-quality raw materials that undergo rigorous selection and control;
• high professionalism of masters, who are often representatives of the family dynasty of furniture manufacturers, and sometimes perform part of the work manually;
• a large number of furniture companies provokes substantial competition already within the country, so that each manufacturer carefully controls the quality of products;
• design is what bribes above all. Italian masters have a subtle sense of taste, are able to make classics fashionable and modern, think through all the elements of products to the smallest detail, take into account existing trends, offer furniture in a different style. This is a jewelry work that bears fruit - exclusive furniture comes out that is valued all over the world;
• comfort and convenience along with beauty and originality;
• durability. Furniture is made, indeed, for centuries, it does not creak and does not fall apart just a couple of months after purchase. Masters work on image and reputation.

Beautiful, comfortable, high-quality and durable furniture can not be cheap, which is quite logical. On the contrary, too low a price should alert you - maybe you are facing a fake.

No. 2. What is included in the dining room furniture?

From the name alone, it is clear that dining furniture is not identical to kitchen furniture. It is, above all, about dining table and chairs. In addition, the composition may also include a buffet and sideboard to showcase beautiful dishes, a chest of drawers or a bedside table for storing cutlery, tablecloths, napkins and other things.

The dining area can be located in the same room as the kitchen, living room or in the combined kitchen-living room. The size of the allocated room also determines what of the dining furniture fits, but a table with chairs is present in any case. They must correspond to the chosen style, be of a suitable size and color.

No. 3. Performance style

For many of us, Italian furniture is associated with carved legs, gilding, ornate patterns and other elements typical of the classics.But craftsmen from Italy also produce furniture in other styles. When choosing, it is worth starting from the features of the room, where dining furniture will stand. It is important that everything is in harmony, so it is better to think over the features of decoration and furniture in advance, even before the start of the repair.

Italian dining furniture is most often performed in the following styles:

• classical. It involves the use of solid wood, the presence of decorative carvings. The colors are restrained and calm, usually used brown, black, creamy, terracotta colors, other natural shades. The upholstery of chairs is made from expensive fabrics, can be either plain or with a pattern, the carriage coupler technique is often used. Tables and dressers receive carved or convex legs, the countertop is made of wood, porcelain stoneware or glass. The most expensive and luxurious items can be covered with a thin layer of silver or gold, receive inlaid from precious stones;
• minimalism - a modern direction, which is characterized by conciseness and simplicity of form. Tables and chairs can be made of wood, but without decorative elements, and can be made using metal, glass and MDF. At the same time, durability and quality play a leading role. The color scheme is restrained, tends to calm shades of black and white. You might think that such furniture looks boring, but it’s not so - Italian manufacturers skillfully beat the idea of ​​the triumph of geometry, and as a result get beautiful and functional furniture that attracts attention;
• modern. Style took a lot from the classics, in high esteem wood, textiles, as well as glass. Not numerous decorative details come to the first place, but the smoothness of lines. A table with a round tabletop, chairs where the back and armrests form a smooth semicircular line, fancifully curving legs - all these are the signature features of modern furniture;
• Art Deco Is a combination of luxury and severity. Tables and chairs receive the correct geometric shapes, are made of wood and glass, leather trim can be used. Style is characterized by everything shiny, so the dining table often gets a smooth lacquered surface. Shades are calm, but contrasting. Dining furniture in this style often combines chocolate and beige, black and white - it looks strict and stylish.

Large manufacturers divide all their furniture into collections, so it will be easy to navigate. If the dining room is already equipped, then personal preferences alone will not be enough - you will have to take into account the style of existing furniture and decoration, otherwise even expensive exclusive furniture will not be able to make the dining room harmonious and noble.

If repairs are just ahead and you are considering the style of your dining area, be sure to take into account room dimensions. If dining furniture will be in a small kitchen or living room, it is better to opt for minimalism - such furniture will not overload the space with an abundance of details. If the dining room is a separate room, or for this area a decent space is allocated in the living room or kitchen, then the choice expands: you can take both a classic suite and a more modern one.

Number 4. Color of dining furniture

Furniture should fit into the interior of the room not only in style but also in color. Frankly, it will be difficult to make a mistake when choosing Italian furniture - in its production calm shades are used, so there should not be any problems with a combination. Remember that craftsmen have been making furniture for ages? For this reason, flashy colors are practically not used. In fact, all that the Italian manufacturers offer us, according to the color scheme, can be divided into two groups:

• light-colored furniture, these are products of dairy, white, light gray and similar colors.Ideal for small rooms in which dark shades of furniture will seem unnecessarily cumbersome;
• furniture saturated dark shades (brown, black, burgundy) looks luxurious, but fits only in fairly spacious and bright rooms.

For those who can not decide, there is a huge choice monochrome products. For example, the chair frame is made of dark wood, and the upholstery is made of light fabric. This contrast allows you to use the table in any shade.

Large manufacturers are ready to meet the client and make furniture from the catalog in almost any color. If you need some unusual combination, or if all existing solutions seem inappropriate, look for a manufacturer who will make custom-made kitchen furniture.

No. 5. Dining table selection

Italian furniture, of course, is impeccably beautiful. It is compared to a work of art every now and then, but you won’t be full of contemplation - dining furniture should be comfortable, appropriate to the size of the room and the number of people living in the apartment. It would be nice to provide a reserve in case guests arrive.

So, with choosing a dining table originally from Italy, consider the following factors:

• the size. It is estimated that one person dining at a table should have at least 60 cm of table width and 40 cm of depth, while there should be room for serving. This means that a comfortable table cannot have a width of less than 80-85 cm, the length depends on the number of family members and guests, as well as on the dimensions of the kitchen / dining room / living room;
• the form. The easiest option is rectangular table, which can be moved to the wall or placed in the center of the room. A company of 6 people can easily sit at a table of 150 * 90 cm, and a table of 2 * 1.1 m will be a good solution if 7-8 people regularly gather at lunch or dinner. If space permits, you can take a table even more, but this is an option if you have a separate dining room. Square tables 90 * 90 cm when placed in the middle of the kitchen will fit 4 diners. No less popular round tablesthat look more airy. In addition, they are less traumatic due to the lack of angles, and even with the same surface area as the rectangular one, they can accommodate more people. However, it is difficult to imagine a large round table - the diners will be too far apart, so that the maximum comfortable diameter is 1.5 m. A compromise solution is oval tableswhich combine the advantages of rectangular and round;
• material. Preference in production is given to natural materials. Remains the leader tree, hue and texture depend on the breed. The rarer the wood used, the higher the price. Wooden countertops are durable, reliable, but require regular processing with special tools. Countertop of stone and porcelain stoneware - A sample of durability and cold beauty. The surface is most resistant to moisture, but such a product will fit only in a very spacious dining room. For tables in a modern style, a countertop made of glass. Such a table looks airy, does not clutter up the space, but requires more careful care. Recently, Italian manufacturers also use MDF and particleboard, moreover, the quality of such materials is controlled especially carefully, so that you can be sure of safety. Thanks to the veneer coating, such countertops look no worse than those made of solid wood;
• number of supports. The classic and most stable version is four legs, and it is implemented in the vast majority of models.If you want something unusual, pay attention to the tables on one support, only it should have a sufficient area of ​​contact with the floor so that the product is stable. The table on two legs should be large enough to be comfortable. If the area of ​​the countertop is not large enough, then sitting at the ends will be uncomfortable due to lack of legroom. Manufacturers consider this nuance - it is difficult to find something uncomfortable and ill-conceived.

If there is not much space in the kitchen, pay attention to transformer tables, the surface of which can significantly increase when there is a need.

No. 6. Choice of Dining Chairs

As a rule, the manufacturer’s collections are arranged in such a way that it is not difficult to make a set of tables and chairs. Several types of chairs can be suitable for one table, they can be made of wood, MDF, chipboard or metal - plastic options are quite rare, since they do not meet the philosophy of Italian furniture makers.

When choosing chairs for the table, consider the similarity of color, shape and style. If the interior does not claim to be classic, then you can be more free in the matter of combination. For example, to a strict rectangular table with a white tabletop made of varnished MDF, you can pick up chairs on elegant chromed legs with upholstery made of light fabric. It is not necessary to achieve unity of color - it is important that in the end the kit looks harmonious, and this is easiest to achieve when uniformity of form respected, i.e. to a round table it is better to choose chairs with smooth curved lines. If you did not find a suitable option, you can always make custom-made furniture so that the dining area looks like the imagination draws.

It is probably not worth talking about the fact that the chair should be as comfortable as possible and should be suitable for long gatherings at the common table. This goes without saying, and when it comes to real Italian furniture, it cannot be otherwise. However, a soft back will be much more comfortable than a hard one.

For upholstery use different materials:

• shenill well suited for the kitchen, as it has sufficient wear resistance. In addition, it is pleasant to the touch;
• tapestry strong and durable, looks gorgeous, but easily gets dirty, besides, stains from it are not easily removed;
• leather It looks strict and beautiful, it is practical and durable;
• jacquard - very dense and durable fabric, has moisture repellent properties, easy to care for;
• scotchguard - the same jacquard, but saturated with special substances that make it even more resistant to moisture, grease and dirt. If the dining furniture is in close proximity to the stove, then this is a great option;
• matting copes well with the daily load, suitable mainly for furniture in a classic style;
• velours - material with a pile of small length, due to embossing, you can get upholstery with an interesting pattern;
• microfiber - a synthetic analogue of suede and velor, it is a pleasant to the touch fabric, which is often used in the manufacture of furniture in a modern style;
• alcantara - a suede substitute that does not rub over time and is used to create chairs in a minimalistic design.

Before buying, it does not bother to make sure that the chairs are sufficiently mobile. If there are armrests in them, it is important to check that the chairs can move freely under the table.

Number 7. Showcases, cupboards and sideboards

If space permits, in the immediate vicinity of the table you can put a buffet, a showcase or sideboard. The main task of this piece of furniture is to demonstrate festive dishes, family silver, and antiques inherited. This is a good addition to the dining room in a classic style. To fit such an element into a modern style will be much more difficult.

If it is worth storing items with special decorative value on open niches and shelves with glass doors, then in closed drawers you can put tablecloths, napkins, sets of dishes for daily use and other tableware. In terms of layout, colors and shapes, buffets show a huge variety. The most expensive products are made of solid wood, in simpler cupboards the frame can be made of MDF, and the facade is made of wood, there are also cupboards made entirely of MDF, they are cheaper.

It is worth noting that the sideboard is actually an autonomous piece of furniture, and its installation will require a significant area. It looks most harmonious if the apartment has a separate dining room, or at least a dining area.

Number 8. Real Italian furniture or fake?

Expensive and sought after items are often faked. Alas, next to the huge offer from real Italian manufacturers in the domestic market there are a lot of counterfeit goods. Fraudsters do everything: they give out furniture of dubious origin as products of a famous brand, or they produce products themselves, registering a company with a beautiful Italian name and inventing a story for it. There are sellers who sell such pseudo Italian furniture at low prices under the guise of stocks and sales. Such generosity does not bother trusting buyers - in the pursuit of Italian furniture they are ready to believe in any fraud. More cautious buyers who know the real price will not take this ploy, but they may fall for other scammers who sell furniture of unknown origin at fairly high prices.

To buy a really high-quality italian furniture, pay attention to the following nuances:

1. availability of warranty. Good furniture, as well as equipment, is guaranteed. If it is not there, or it is too short, then look for another manufacturer;
2. availability of samples. The responsible manufacturer has showrooms in which samples of the offered products are displayed;
3. possibility of additional order. A normal manufacturer appreciates each client, so after the purchase it will not be difficult to buy any little thing - they can even make it to order. A company focused only on quick profits will not bother with this;
4. indirectly about the seriousness of the manufacturer catalog quality. If it is printed on thin paper, and the photo is of dubious quality, as in the brochures of a regular supermarket, then it is undesirable to trust the company;
5. issue of exchange and return. Elite Italian furniture is ordered by serious people who are unlikely to change their mind in a week. There are no questions about the quality at all, so the exchange and return procedure is usually not provided. Some salons can meet and take purchased products for sale - some of the money can be returned, but this is not a common practice;
6. certificates for manufactured productswhere the production address is registered. Of course, it is better if the entire production cycle is carried out directly in Italy, and this should be indicated in the documents. Some companies have opened factories in Russia, and Italian experts control the entire process. Normal manufacturers do not hide this, since such a solution does not affect quality, but allows deliveries to be made faster and offer more competitive prices. There are manufacturers who have moved the main production to China, where they make the basic elements of furniture that are already assembled in Italy, and as a result, the latter is considered the country of origin. This is already dishonest, so you have to evaluate the quality of the assembly yourself in order to bring the manufacturer to clean water;
7. the real Italian furniture is delivered in hard corrugated cardboard, and the facades of the windows can be delivered separately, since special requirements are put forward for their transportation;
8. fakes, alas, are very similar in appearance to the original, so pay attention to details. The line should be perfectly even, the fittings should be of high quality and expensive, the unpleasant smell should not be. Italian manufacturers are masters in the field of carving and inlay. To fake this intricate decor is quite difficult.

A striking example of high-quality Italian furniture is the CASA MOBILE brand. Products manufactured at the Russian furniture factory Lider LLC under the strict control of Italian specialists are supplied to the domestic market. The company offers luxury Italian furniture for the kitchen. Each product from the catalog can be custom made in any desired shade, which gives complete freedom in terms of the implementation of design ideas. The manufacturer uses high-quality materials, which allows him to give a 5-year warranty on each product. The lineup is constantly updated.